Multiple fluke folding anchor



Feb. 27, 1962 P. c. DE BEIXEDON MULTIPLE FLUKE FOLDING ANCHOR Filed Aug. 8, 1960 arrow/5M9 Unite States 3,622,761 MULTIPLE FLUKEFQLDING ANCHDR BhijpC. De B eixedon, lilsil Cold Spring Road, i Santa Barbara, Calif. Filed-Ang 8, 1960.. Ser. No, 48,290 7. Claims. (CL- 114 -208) The present invention relates generally to a multiple fluketypeof anchor.

More specifically this invention relates to improvements in the older twin fluke, type anchor such as those shown in-U.S Patents No. 2,576.39!) and; No. 2,354,666 of Danforth. Such improvements result in construction which is simpler and more economical, especially in connection with the construction of anchors of relativelylightweight and high holdingpower.

A general object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide. an anchor of light weight and high-holding power. It is afurther object to provide an anchor of multiple fluke design wherein any number of fiukes may be used as desired, therebyeliminatingthe needfor -more. than one size anchor.

It is another object to provide a multiple fluke anchor of articulated design such aswill adapt itself to uneven bottom conditions, and'will also be collapsible soas to store in a small space.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multiple fluke anchor of high-holding power and light weight which can beeasily and economically fabricated and assembled,consisting of a minimum of parts.

Other important features and advantages which are believed to be novel will appear hereinafter.

The invention itself, and further advantages thereof, may be more readily understood, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIUURE l is aperspectives low. of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a number of fluke sections assembled in accordance with this invention. FEGURE Z is a side elevation of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1, demonstrating the positions occupied by the various parts thereof when the device i set on the bottom.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the assembly of FIG- URE 1, showing the method and ability'of saiddevice to collapse.

FIGURE 4 is a View, similar toFIGURE 1, showing a modified form of this invention.-

FEGURE 5 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing another modified form of this invention.

Referring to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the anchor comprises a diverging pair of-bars forming a yokeltl. being joined at one end with ashackle 11 by pin 1;. To shackle 13 may be attached a rope or a chain 13 as desired A short piece of chain may be most desirable here to help weight the front end ofthe anchor down so that the fiukes can all get a good hold on the bottom.

Pivotally secured to yoke 1d, at the end opposite shackle 11, is a pair of snpportingfr ame bars 14 and 15, detachably affixed by cross pin 16. Support frame bars 14 and 15 may be offset, as at l7, t o allow the attachment of additional fluke sections of the same general configuration. In this manner, the rear portion of each fluke section is narrower than the front portion, so that the frame of the subsequent section can fit over said rear portion.

At the narrower, rear portion of each fluke section are pivotaily secured the fiukes 18 by means of a rod 19, to which red the flukes are rigidly fastened. The ends of rod 19 pass through pivot holes in overlapping ends of the bars of the support frames 14 and i5 and extend out past the edges thereof a sufficient distance to allow the 2. second fluke section supporting frames to bev attached thereto. The ends of rod 19, are equipped with suitable fastening means such as eotter'pins or tapered pins.

To the inside of frames 14 and/or l5, toward. the rear thereof, are affixed one or more rectangular, 'U shaped brackets or stopsflll with the opening thereof facing inwardly, substantially. as showjn'in' FIGURE 1, to limit the pivotal motion of theflukes 18. Thesebrackets 24 limit the duke rotation to about 30 each side of center thereby insuring suflicient initial entering angle and eliminating pull-Iouti I i I V l I Also to rod l? is alfixed a flange 21 substantially perpendicular to fiukes 13 and moyable therewithf'When the anchor is pulled along the bo-t lmi fi cseflanges 21 will cause the flukes to rotate downwardand thereby drive them into the bottom.

Slightly forward of rod lfi arestud pins 22 extending outwardly from the supporting frames andlS. These studs 22 prevent thefluke sections from becoming stuck,

together when collapsed. As shown in FIGURE 3, the studs support the various sections up and away from one another so that the inwardly bent portions 17 of adjacent sections do not strike one another and eventually become, jammed. When the anchor is lifted upward oif the deck by shackle 11, the entire anchor may be expected to nnfold easily. I

While only one. fluke section has been described, each subsequent section may be seen to be similar in con figuration and function, and therefore, will require no, further explanation. Several of these sections may be added to the first one depending on the holding power required and they may be easily and quickly assembl ed or removed. i

The fiukes 18, as shown, are of a bifurcated configuration; however, they may consist of one or several members without falling outside the scope of this inv nt oni FIGURE 4 shows a modification of the anchor shown in FIGURE 1. The dilferences lie generally in that the fluke sections are in pairs More specifically the modified device consists of a pair of diverging members 30 which make up the yoke and the supporting frames for the first two fluke sections. The members 30 are joined at th e r front by a shackle 11a and pin lZaQ The members 30 are provided with tabs 33 .which are bent over inwardly to provide stops for the flukes 18d. Said flukes 18a, as herein provided, are like those previously described and may, or may not, be provided with a flange, such as flange 21. Said flukcs 18a are pivotally attached to frames 30 by rods 19a. 7

The articulatesections to be added may include single fiukes or pairs thereof as shown. The supporting frames 36 are pivotally attached to the frames 3% by. pins 37 which. pass through holesin the ends of frames 36. Said frames 3 6 also have a widenedpor'tion' 38' which will allowsaid frames to pivotfreely withoutstriking' rods 19a. Other than the open or connecting end," this sec tion is identical-to the first section i.e. having stops 33, skss tc and Pins 37 an e 19a; A i m f Such sections may be. used as desired. M

Another modified form of the invention appears in FIGURE 5 The yokelllb, shackle 11b, pin 12b and pin 15b, areessenti ally similar tothose same parts shown in FIGURE 1. Likewise, the fluke 18b and 'pivotfrod 12b assembly, is similar toth at previously described. The differences lie generally in the snpport ing frames 45 and 46 which are made identical for each section.

Said frames 45, 46 are connected to the yoke 10!) by pin 16b in the usual manner. The frame is bent inwardly near the rear thereof, such as at 47, and the fluke assembly is mounted in aligned apertures therein such that the additional sections which may be added should be 3 allowed to clear the end of the fluke rod 1%. Projections 48 are provided integrally with frames 45 and 46 and are bent over such as at 49 to limit the amount of times the holding power of other well-known modern anchors of the same weight. My improved anchor will bury itself completely in the sand but Will also break out easily since its articulation allows the flukes to free themselves sequentially when an upward force is applied to the anchor line.

Due to the simplicity of design, any damaged part can be easily and quickly replaced. The design lends itself to the use of any desired material, e.g., bar stock, forging or stainless steel.

While the particlar embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames each having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, the side bars of one frame having ends overlapping the ends of the side bars of an adjacent frame, a plurality of flukes, one fluke being pivotally mounted on each frame and positioned between the side bars thereof, means limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said fiukes with respect to the side bars, and pivot means connecting the overlapping ends of the side bars to form a series of frames, whereby the series of frames may be folded about said pivot means from an extended position wherein the flukes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the flukes are vertically spaced.

2. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames each having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, a plurality of flukes, one fluke being pivotally mounted on each frame and positioned between the side bars thereof, means on the side bars limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said flukes with respect to the side bars, and pivot means connecting each frame to another frame to form a series, whereby the series of frames may be folded about said pivot means from an extended position wherein the flukes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the fiukes are vertically spaced, and stop means on the side bars limiting the extent of relative pivotal movement of adjacent frames. I

3. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames each having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, the side bars of one frame having ends overlapping the ends of the side bars of an adjacent frame means including a transverse rod pivotally connecting adjacent overlapping ends of the side bars to connect each frame to the end of another frame to form a series, a plurality of flukes, one fluke being mounted on each transverse rod and positioned between the side bars of one of the frames, means limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said flukes with respect to the side bars, the series of frames being movable about said rods from an extended position wherein the flukes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the fiukes are vertically spaced.

4. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames each-having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, the side bars of one frame having ends overlapping the ends of the side bars X of an adjacent frame, a plurality of flukes, at least one fluke being pivotally mounted on each frame between the side bars thereof, pivot means connecting the overlapping ends of the side bars to connect adjacent frames to form a series, whereby the series of frames may be folded about said pivot means from an extended position wherein the flakes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the flukes are vertically spaced, and means limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said fiukes with respect to the side bars.

5. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames each having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, the side bars of one frame having ends overlapping the ends of the side bars of an adjacent frame, a plurality of flukes, one pair of flukes being pivotally mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on each frame and positioned between the side bars thereof, means limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said flukes with respect to the side bars, and pivot means connecting adjacent overlapping ends of the side bars to connect each frame to another frame to form a series, whereby the series of frames may be folded about said pivot means from an extended position wherein the pairs of fiukes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the pairs of fiukes are vertically spaced.

6. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames each having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, a plurality of flakes, one pair of flukes being pivotally mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on each frame and positioned between the side barsthereof, means limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said fiukes with respect to the side bars, and pivot means positioned on the side bars between the fiukes of each pair and connecting each frame to another frame to form a series, whereby the series of frames may be folded about said pivot means from an extended position wherein the pairs of flukes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the pairs of flukes are vertically spaced.

7. An anchor assembly, comprising in combination: a plurality of frames, each frame having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side bars, each side bar having a projecting element at one end, a plurality of flukes, each fluke being pivotally mounted on the projecting elements of the side bars on one of the frames, respectively, and between the side bars thereof, means on the projecting elements limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said flukes, pivot means connecting the side bars of each frame to the side bars of an adjacent frame to form a series, whereby the series of frames may be folded about said pivot means from an extended position wherein the flukes are longitudinally spaced to a stacked position wherein the fiukes are vertically spaced.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,693 Myers June 17, 1924 2,733,678 Childs Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 67,129 France Apr. 22, 1865 

